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Breastfeeding and Allergies -- Nothing to Sneeze At
By Denise Syed
Breastfeeding is a special gift mothers and babies share. The joy of breastfeeding, however, can be cut short if a mother suspects that her child is having an allergic reaction. What causes an allergic reaction, and what are the symptoms? Does breastfeeding help or hinder an allergic baby? What are the treatments for an allergic baby? And, finally, are allergy symptoms during infancy a precursor to a lifelong battle of allergy suffering? Happily, breastfeeding is not part of the problem but rather part of the solution.
Allergic reactions occur when the body responds to what it perceives as an invasion of a foreign substance (e.g., dust, mold or a particular food particle). In defense, the body produces large amounts of the antibody Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and has an immunological response to counter the intrusion. The result of that process, as any allergy sufferer knows, can be a host of symptoms ranging from bothersome (runny nose, watery eyes, and congestion) to life threatening (anaphylaxis).
Allergic reactions in infants -- even those who are exclusively breastfed -- can occur. A baby's symptoms may include stomach upset and diarrhea, rashes or hives and the trademark runny nose and eyes. However, the symptoms of an allergic reaction might be limited to something as subtle as restlessness or difficulty sleeping. Rachel's son, fully breastfed since birth has always had "mucousy green bowel movements, rashy cheeks and scales behind his ears. He sometimes has red rashes on the skin on the insides of his knees as well. He has never slept well."
Allergic reactions in infants who are exclusively breastfed might be mistaken by some mothers (and some physicians) as an allergic reaction to the breastmilk itself. Rest assured, this is most often not the case. According to lactation consultant Kathy Koch, "It is not possible for a child to be allergic to his or her mother's milk. It is possible for a child to be alle